Releasable choke



April 27, 19 7- J. M. MCDONOLJGH ET AL 2,078,402

RELEASABLE CHOKE Filed Sept. 20, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I ff) 0 3 v-' N 6 N l N jwucnkvp Jaa./1oore MC Doncuahk fdzlizm April 1937- J. M. MCDONOUGH ET AL 2,078,402

RELEASABLE CHOKE Filed Sept. 20, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig rA-Huunason 6 Mu a) zgifim Patented Apr. 27, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE REL A ABLE onom: a

' James Moore McDonough, Galveston, and Granville A. Humason, Houston, Tex.

This invention relates to valves to be employed in flow lines and has more particular application to valves of this character havin a chok passage therein to restrict and limit the flow of fluid through the line.

Such devices are employed Particularly in res trictin the flow of oil and as from o l wells wherein the production allowed Irom the well is limited. In such constructions the oil and gas issuing from the well is frequently accompanied by sand or other abrasive particles which tend to wear the passage through the cholge. In such cases the ,valve member which restricts the how must be repaired or replaced" at intervals.

It is therefore an object 01 this invention to provide a valve in which the part thereof having the restricted part therein may be removed and replaced when desired without diffioulty and without waste of'time.

It is desired to so construct the valve that it may be easily closed and the choke member removed and replaced without loss of a minimum amount of time.

It is further an object of the invention to pro.-

vide a construction of choke valve which is economical and which may be easily operated and in w i h. h p rtion of th va ve a in the restricted passage therein may be changed to em! ploy the proper size of opening when necessity arises.

The invention lies also in the means whereby the valve may be effectively operated and a seal maintained therethrough at all times. v

It is also desired to provide an apparatus where-.- by th va ay be eld n adjust d posit on and properly sealed.

With'reference to the drawings herewith, Fig,

1 is a central longitudinal section through a valve member embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a view similar to that shown in Fig, 1, but illustrating the parts in a difierent p si tiOn.

to the cylindrical chamber 2 is provided at '3, n inlet pipe 4. bein scr w therein- O h pposite side of the housing and offset from the inlet opening 3 is an outlet port 5 into which is connected 9. flow pipe 6.

At n d. of th hou n I is a nipp e wh ch s s ed to he housi y a f n e and bolt connection 8. nipple is an extension of the ne am r 2 with n the ho n and s ut surfa e s pr i d with a oa se t e d 9 upon which i sc w d a c p 0. Th nt i r oi the nipp e is rec ssed at. H to nc e s the n eri r d amet r th o to p e s a o h enlar ed d l2 i the val e member l3. Th s r cess is beveled. as s own at M on t us and at I5 on the nipple. These beveled surfaces are sealing surfaces as will be later noted.

The lve membe s a cy indri a me er fit n closely within h ous n and havi a close contact therewith. Toward one end of the va ve member is a longitudinal groove l6 into which a short dowel. ll engages to prevent rotation of the valve within the housing. The valve member extends from the housing into the nipple l and has an enlarged end l8 thereon which has opposed beveled surfaces at l9 and 20 to engage wi h he houlders l4 a d 5; p c y. o orm a seal, in both open and closed positions of the valve.

At the opposite end of the valve member is an axial recess 2| into which is fitted the head 22 upon a threaded shaft 23. Said shaft is screwed through an opening 24 in a cap 25 which closes the end of the housing. Said cap is secured to th hous ng by a flange and bolt on t o 26- It has an interior recess 21, which forms a continuation of the valve chamber 2 within the housing, The shaft 23 is rotatable by means of a handle 28 so as to screw the shaft into and out of the valve chamber. There is an axial passage 29' in the threaded shaft 23 extending from the in er end ou ward y a pr determ istan to connect with a laterally extending hole 30. passage furnishes a vent for fluid within the va ve chamb r whe t e alve is m ved t ward the cap 25.

The valve member l3 has an axial bore 33 therein from the en a e end to a p n spa d somewhat from the end of the valve. From this bore is a lateral opening 3| which may be brought nto e istrat on with the in t p nin 3. On the opposite side of the valve and spaced from the opening 3| is opening 32 which is adapted to register with the opening 5 in the housing.

Within the said axial bore 33 is a core 34 which fits closely Within the bore and has near the end a tapering passage or port 35 to register with the opening 3 I and on the opposite side and ofiset from the passage 35 a similar tapered passage 36 to register with the opening 32. These two passages 35 and 36 are connected by an axial passage 3'! so that fluid may pass in at one opening 35 and issue at the opposite opening 36. This passage 31 is of the desired size to choke down the flow of fluid through the valve. Its

diameter is determined by the amount of fluid which is intended to be allowed to flow through the passage and it is to be understood that cores having passages of different diameter therein may be used with this construction.

The outer end of the core 34 is spaced from the end of the valve member and has a threaded recess 38 to receive a threaded bolt when desired. 4

The interior of the bore is threaded at the end as shown at 39 so that a bolt or shaft 49 may be screwed therein, said shaft being ordinarily screwed into the bore into contact with the end of the plug 34. The shaft 40 is extended outwardly beyond the end of the nipple 9 and through an opening M in the cap III. The head of the bolt bears against the outer surface of the cap when the cap is screwed outwardly.

Between the inner surface of the cap Ill'and the end of the valve member I3 is a spacing sleeve 42. The end of this sleeve is preferably welded to the end of the valve member as shown at 43. This enables the operator to move the valve member I3 longitudinally to the right, as shown in Fig. 1, by screwing the cap inwardly against the end of the sleeve 42.

In the operation of this valve the valve may be moved into the closed position shown in Fig. l by unscrewing the cap I6 along the threaded portion 9 of the nipple, exerting a pull on the head of the shaft 40 and pulling the valve, with the core therein, into position with the openings 3| and 32 out of alignment with the inlet and outlet openings in the housing. When the valve is in this closed position the shaft 24 may be screwed up so as to abut against the end of the valve and hold it from longitudinal movement in that direction. When the valve is to be opened the shaft 24 is unscrewed, pulling the shaft away from the end of the valve and moving the outlet port 39 in the shaft 24 to a position outside of the cap 25, thus providing a vent for the escape of fluid from. within the cap. The operating cap I6 at the opposite end of the device is then screwed inwardly so as to force the sleeve 42 and the valve I3 longitudinally in the housing to bring the opening 3I into registration with the inlet 3 and the opening 32 into registration with the outlet 5. This position is shown in Fig. 2.

When the valve is in closed position, as shown in Fig. 2, the shoulder I9 on the valve is brought against the shoulder I4 in the valve housing to form a seal at that point. When the valve is in open position the shoulder I5 on the opposite side of the valve head seals against the surface 20.

The inner core 34 may be removed and replaced quickly when desired. It is non-rotatable within the bore in the valve, due to the dowel 44 in the core engaging within a groove 45 in the interior of the bore. To remove the core the threaded shaft 43 is unscrewed from the end of the valve. A threaded bolt or pin is then screwed within the recess 38 and the core may be withdrawn. It will be obvious that the valve must be in closed position when this is done. A new core may be quickly inserted and the shaft 40 replaced when the device is again ready for use.

It will be obvious that when the choke is not desired the interior core 34 may be withdrawn and the shaft 40 assembled in the end of the valve member I3 and a full open passage through the valve will be obtained. The device is therefore adapted to be used without the choke where such use is desirable.

In Fig. 3 a sealing member is provided at both ends of the valve. On the forward end of the valve member adjacent the stop shaft 24 the inner valve housing has been extended by providing a longer cap, 25'. The end of the valve I member I3 is provided with a short extension 46, the end of which is threaded to receive a nut 41. Upon this reduced extension is a sealing bushing 48. This is a ring of metal, the ends of which are beveled at 49 and 50 to seal with the inner shoulders on the housing and cap as will be clearly seen from Fig. 3. This construction is otherwise similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and need not be further described. The provision of a sealing member at both ends of the valve is sometimes desirable where high fluid pressures are to be handled and danger of leakage about the valve becomes great.

In Fig. 6 the invention is shown as employed with a tapered plug valve construction. The outer housing 5I in this device has an inner tapered chamber 52. This chamber is closed at its smaller end by a cap 53 secured to the housing by the flange and bolt connection 54. The opposite end of the housing is closed by a cap 55 also bolted to the end of the housing at 56.

Within the chamber 52 is the tapered plug valve 51. It has an opening 58 therein which registers when in open position with the port 59 connected with an inlet pipe 60. On the opposite side and spaced longitudinally from the inlet opening is an outlet port 6| connecting with the outlet pipe 62. The valve plug 51 is rotated to move the ports 58 and 63 out of registration with the inlet and outlet respectively by means of a stem 64 which extends through the cap 55 and has a squared end 65 thereon by means of which it may be rotated. A seal at the larger end of the valve is obtained by contact of a shoulder 66 on the plug engaging with the shoulder 6'! on the cap.

Within the tapered plug 5'! is a tapered bore 68. The larger end of this bore is at the smaller end of the plug. Said bore extends to a point short of the end of the plug and is adapted to fit tightly with the inner wall of the bore. The core 69 which fits within the tapered bore 63 has a passage I0 therein connecting at one end with the port 58 in the valve and at the other end with the port 63 in the valve. The larger end of the core is provided with a threaded recess II into which a threaded shaft may be connected when the core is to be removed.

In the cap 53 is a central threaded opening I2 to receive the threaded plug 13. This plug has its inner end formed to bear against the core 69 and force the same tightly into its seat. The core is held non-rotatably within the bore of the valve by the dowel I4 engaging with the keyway I5 in the interior of the valve.

In the operation of this embodiment of the invention the choke passage 76 through the core may be brought into and out of registration with the inlet and outlet ports by the rotation of the valve plug 51. When the choke has become worn and it is necessary to remove the same the valve is moved to closed position by rotation of the stem 64 and the plug I3 is then removed and a threaded memberinserted into the recess II to withdraw the core. A new core may be then inserted if desired and the valve housing closed so that the valve is then again ready for use. This embodiment of the invention is better adapted for some situations than the form previously described.

In Fig. '7 is shown a structure similar to that of the Fig. 6 embodiment except that the larger end of the valve member is directed toward the opposite end of the housing from that shown in Fig. 6. The plug 69 thus tapers in the same direction as does the valve member 51. The operation of this construction is obviously the same as that of the Fig. 6 embodiment. It will be noted, however, that the operating stem 65' is at the smaller end of the valve, the operation being however identical.

In a choke valve construction of this character it is possible to renew the choke member with little difiiculty and without closing down the flow of fluid through the passage except for a very short time. During the period when the choke is being removed the valve is tightly closed and no leakage or other difliculty can arise. Furthermore, as previously pointed out, the core can be entirely removed when a choke is no longer required. This enables the valve to be used without the choke control whenever it becomes desirable to flow with a full opening. The further advantages will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed as new is:

l. A valve structure including a housing having a fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet offset from said inlet, a valve fitting adjustably in said housing, a removable core in said valve, offset ports in said valve adapted to be brought into and out of registration with said inlet and outlet by longitudinal movement of said valve, an axial conduit in said core connected with said ports, said conduit being of predetermined capacity, and means to move said valve.

2. A valve structure including a housing having a fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet offset from said inlet, a valve fitting adjustably in said housing, a removable core in said valve, ofiset ports in said valve adapted to be brought into and out of registration with said inlet and outlet by movement of said valve, a choke conduit axially of said core connected with said ports, means to move said valve, and adjustable means to hold said valve in closed position.

3. A valve structure including a housing having a fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet offset from said inlet, a valve fitting adjustably in said housing, a removable core in said valve, offset ports in said valve adapted to be brought into and out of registration with said inlet and outlet by movement of said valve, a choke conduit axially of said core connected with said ports, means to move said valve, and adjustable means to hold said valve in closed position, Said st e means having a vent therein from said housing positioned to open when said valve is in open position.

4. A valve structure including, a housing having inlet and outlet openings offset from each other transversely of said housing, a valve plug, an axial core in said plug, said core being removable from said plug, a fluid passage in said plug and core having ports adapted to be moved to and from registration with said openings, and means to move said plug axially of said housing to open and close said ports.

5. A valve structure including, a housing having inlet and outlet openings offset from each other transversely of said housing, a valve plug, an axial core in said plug, said core being removable from said plug, a fluid passage in said plug and core having ports adapted to be moved to and from registration with said openings, a cap screwed upon one end of said housing, a shaft connected with said plug and engaging through said cap, and means on said plug to be engaged by said cap to move said plug in one direction.

6. A cylindrical valve housing, a cylindrical valve member slidable longitudinally in said housing, a central bore axially of said valve member, a fluid passage through the walls of said housing and valve member to said bore at one point and from said bore at a point offset from the point of entrance when the valve is in open position, a core insertable into and having a passage therein with the ends thereof registering with the passages through the walls of said valve member.

7. A cylindrical valve housing, an inlet thereto, an outlet offset therefrom, a valve slidable londitudinally in said housing and having an axial cylindrical bore extending from one end thereof to a point short of the other end, means to close the bore, offset ports in said valve adapted to be positioned to register with said inlet and said outlet, a core adapted to fit said bore and havin a passage registering with said ports, means to move said valve to position with said ports out of registration with said inlet and outlet, the said core being then removable and replaceable.

8. A cylindrical valve housing, an inlet thereto, an outlet offset therefrom, a valve slidable in said housing and having an axial cylindrical bore extending from one end thereof to a point short of the other end, means to close the bore, an enlarged annular recess atone end of said housing, beveled shoulders at each end of said recess, a radial enlargement on said valve formed to fit said recess and seal with said shoulders, offset ports in said valve adapted to be positioned to register with said inlet and said outlet, a core adapted to fit said bore and having a passage registering with said ports, means to move said valve to position with said ports out of registration with said inlet and outlet, the said core being then removable and replaceable.

9. A valve housing, inlet and outlet openings therein, a valve in said housing and movable longitudinally therein, an axial bore extending into said valve from one end thereof, a core insertable into said bore, a choke passage adapted to connect said inlet and outlet through said valve and core, said valve being movable to and from positions registering said passage with said inlet and said outlet, means to hold said core in said bore removably so that said core may be removed from said bore.

10. A cylindrical valve housing having fluid passages through the walls thereof, a cylindrical Valve member slidable longitudinally in said housing, a central bore axially of said valve memher, a core formed to removably fit within said bore, a fluid passage through said valve member and core including a choke conduit in the core adapted to connect with the fluid passages in said housing and means to move said valve member and core to open or close the passage therethrough.

11. A valve housing having an axial bore thereing a choke conduit in the core adapted to conin and fluid passages through the walls thereof, meet with the fluid passages in said housing and a valve member movable in said housing, a cenmeans to move said valve member and core to tral bore axially of said valve member, a core open or close the passage therethrough. 5 formed to fit removably in said bore, a. fluid pas- JAMES MOORE McDONOUGI-I.

sage through said valve member and core includ- GRANVILLE A. HUMASON. 

